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Parents' Guide to

Duplicity

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Clever, complex romantic thriller is too twisty for tweens.

Movie PG-13 2009 123 minutes
Duplicity Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

tweetyb210
tweetyb210 Adult
March 23, 2009
age 17+
The chemistry between Roberts and Owen was ok, I could see Clooney in Owens spot t]even better. I enjoyed the wordplay between them and their duplitcious thinking. I really disliked the film, it was very grainy and seemed contrived.
az
az Parent of 5 and 8-year-old
March 22, 2009
age 15+

Not a movie for your teen or tween...

Definitely not a family-friendly movie - it has a lot of sexual innuendo and swearing. Also, the plot was a bit cumbersome and hard to follow, even for an adult. This is a movie kids can skip!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Mixing true romance and corporate espionage, director Tony Gilroy's DUPLICITY follows the dealings and double-dealings of former MI-6 agent Ray (Clive Owen) and his one-time lover, Claire (Julia Roberts), a former CIA spook. Each hatches a plan to use their spy skills in the private sector by working for rival consumer-goods corporations (think Procter & Gamble and Unilever) run by business nemeses Richard Garsik (Paul Giamatti) and Howard Tully (Tom Wilkinson). Ray and Claire's end game is to sell an extremely valuable top-secret formula to the highest bidder -- but, like the title implies, it's never clear who's gaming who.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (7 ):

Reuniting Closer co-stars Roberts (who, as a mother of three, is incredibly picky about her roles now) and Owen is pure genius. They sizzle on both a cerebral and physical level, and their banter is a throwback to 1940s screwball comedies. Joining the irresistible pair are Giamatti and Wilkinson, both of whom are hilariously perfect as titans of industry. Giamatti's character is a charismatic, winner-take-all CEO, while Wilkinson's is a classy, Zen-master leader (he even writes with a fountain pen!).

Gilroy is clearly interested in America as a Corporatocracy. As in his debut film Michael Clayton, Gilroy again explores the evils that powerful companies are capable of -- but this time he also injects a heavy dose of romance and humor to balance out the suspense and drama. The result is an impressively crafted, topsy-turvy romantic thriller/drama/comedy that stars two pros at on-screen chemistry.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why caper/heist movies are so appealing, even when the characters are breaking the law. How do filmmakers get us rooting for the crooks?

  • How would you feel about people who do what the characters do in real life?

  • Do you think the idea of no-holds-barred corporate espionage is believable?

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